Ah…what a weekend! Unfortunately I was sick for about 2 weeks and this prevented me from going to a happy hour with my future new coworkers. I did however get to go to lunch with a guy who works at Commerce now and will be in my A-100 class. I also have added a number of future classmates to my facebook friend list and so am getting to know some of them a bit. The listserve also works to put us all in touch and answer some questions. A very large portion of the questions either have to do with moving stuff or family issues. Since neither category really applies to me right now, it hasn’t been terribly pertinent but oh well.
So this weekend…mommy came to visit. We went to the midnight showing of Big Lebowski, yeah it was pretty sweet. But…in keeping with the theme of writing about my new job…mom informed me that my Christmas present is a digital camera!!! Woo-hoo!!! I’d been looking into them but it was the buying a laptop dilemma all over again…so many options, so little knowledge of what I really wanted…which means mom just making the decision is a big help. Of course now I worry…Becky, TS Clearance, Digital Camera, something has got to give.
And since I don’t have to spend the money on a digital camera I have a few more funds for some other necessities that will help in the new life. I bought some nice pans!!!! A one quart and a three quart saucepan!!! My reasoning is that if I get posted somewhere where I am expected to hire a cook I don’t want to be embarrassed by my shabby pots…my mom’s reasoning is her horror at my Teflon coated and in many spots scraped off pans.
To break in the new pans I made soup! I had never made soup nor had I ever played with leeks. My potato-leek soup, recipe straight from Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, was delicious! And I have enough leftover that it will be dinner tonight and tomorrow night! Yippee! I also made a lemon meringue pie, yum!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
taking the tests and getting in...the gritty
When I was 17 I went to Poland. It was the end of my year as an exchange student in France and my Polish friend Joanna invited me to visit so I took a 36 hour bus ride from Geneva, Switzerland to Opole, Poland, getting myself lost with barely a zloty to my name but that is another story. Joanna and her family were so excited to show me around the country and arranged one day for a trip to Warsaw. That day President Clinton was landing in the city and somehow we decided to go out to the airport and watch Air Force One land. That is where I first encountered Foreign Service Officers and man were they cool! That is the first time I thought “That is the job I want when I grow up!” with certainty.
I first tried out for the Foreign Service in 2002. I passed the written exam in Phoenix and then passed the oral exam in San Francisco. I withered on the “list of eligible hires” for two years with no offer. I tried to take the French exam to boost my score – it was over the phone with me being put on speakerphone with two different examiners and then being asked to explain my dissertation. Yeah, with that setup I wouldn’t have passed an English exam either. Oh well!
I tried out again whilst living in North Dakota, passing the written in Grand Forks (the city which both flooded and burned at the same time and where I had my first “black and blue”, ½ guiness, ½ PBR) and failing the oral in Chicago. Failing the oral hurt because I passed two of the three sections, missing out on the group exercise. It was hard feeling as if the exam had been out of my control since I had a group of super aggressive men who didn’t quite understand the exercise and made us unable to follow the instructions. Oh well!
I passed the second time while living in Philadelphia, taking the written in Philly and the oral in D.C. However, I didn’t actually believe I’d get an offer due to having passed before. I underwent the Medical Clearance and had my life dissected and friends and former acquaintances interviewed for my security clearance. Eventually I passed those hurdles and was placed on the register. A few weeks later I had an offer!
Actually I am happy that I didn't get in back in 2002. I really feel that the experiences I've had since then have developed me as a future officer. Having a variety of jobs taught me a lot about challenges existing everywhere and instilled in me much more patience and perspective.
I first tried out for the Foreign Service in 2002. I passed the written exam in Phoenix and then passed the oral exam in San Francisco. I withered on the “list of eligible hires” for two years with no offer. I tried to take the French exam to boost my score – it was over the phone with me being put on speakerphone with two different examiners and then being asked to explain my dissertation. Yeah, with that setup I wouldn’t have passed an English exam either. Oh well!
I tried out again whilst living in North Dakota, passing the written in Grand Forks (the city which both flooded and burned at the same time and where I had my first “black and blue”, ½ guiness, ½ PBR) and failing the oral in Chicago. Failing the oral hurt because I passed two of the three sections, missing out on the group exercise. It was hard feeling as if the exam had been out of my control since I had a group of super aggressive men who didn’t quite understand the exercise and made us unable to follow the instructions. Oh well!
I passed the second time while living in Philadelphia, taking the written in Philly and the oral in D.C. However, I didn’t actually believe I’d get an offer due to having passed before. I underwent the Medical Clearance and had my life dissected and friends and former acquaintances interviewed for my security clearance. Eventually I passed those hurdles and was placed on the register. A few weeks later I had an offer!
Actually I am happy that I didn't get in back in 2002. I really feel that the experiences I've had since then have developed me as a future officer. Having a variety of jobs taught me a lot about challenges existing everywhere and instilled in me much more patience and perspective.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Common Questions
I have tried to tell everyone about my new career but as much as I feel I've been shouting it from the rooftops, still people that I consider very important to me tell me they had no idea!
But once they soak it in, there are a few commom questions to which I now have some answers:
1) When do you start?
Training starts January 5. January 5 and 6 are at the State Department Main Building in Foggy Bottom...yup right by the Watergate Hotel. Most of the rest of the first 7 week training class, called A-100, will be at the Foreign Service Institute(FSI) in Arlington.
2) Where are you going? Do you get to choose?
Alas, I have no idea yet. I am available for worldwide assignment. The first week I will get a list of available posts and I will rank all the posts on the list either high, medium, low. I will also meet with people from State to discuss why I've ranked the way I have and what I want. I've heard that most people do get a posting that they ranked as high.
3) When will you know where you are going?
Flag Day is February 13th, yup Friday the 13th! This is a ceremony at FSI where all the flags for the potential posts are up front. Each flag is taken up and the officers identify the country. Then the officer assigned to that country is called and goes up to accept their flag and their info about their new post.
4) How long will you be training? When do you leave?
Most officers train from 4 months to 1 year before going to their first post. I will know when I'm leaving after flag day. Everyone does A-100, which is the 7 weeks just about State's mission and being a diplomat in general. Then, depending on the type of post, additional training about the specific job will occur. Then, again depending on the post, language training may be needed.
5) Are you crazy?
Maybe. I definitely go against the norm sometimes and get geeked out about constantly being uprooted and having new challenges. Some people call me brave, but really I'm just very restless. Probably for me, being really brave would be staying put in one place since that is what scares me.
6) Where do you want to go? What is your dream post?
I know that I should have a number one spot that I am hoping for but I don't. I am just super excited to get this job and really enthused about serving wherever I am needed. I used to think I've been a fair number of places, although as I find out about my future co-classmates I realize how limited my travels have been. However, I've enjoyed to some degree everywhere I've been and know that attitude trumps environment every time. I think that if I go into the class with my hopes pinned on one spot then I set myself up for disappointment. So I really don't have my preferred post.
7) That sounds like bs. Where do you want to go?
Alright, all else being equal I would love to go to South America or Southeast Asia or a Pacific island country or Eastern Europe. Probably about a third of the postings would get me smiling like an idiot for weeks.
8) Where don't you want to go?
I'm willing to go anywhere but there are some places I'd rather visit than live. Mostly, I'd prefer not to go to a country where as a woman my social options would be limited. Beyond that, I'd prefer not to go to a danger posting although I am willing to do so if the need is there.
9) How about money?
I am taking about a 20% pay cut to take the job. Since I'm only training in DC I don't get locality pay. But since I live in DC I don't get the per diem that others get (which is VERY generous). So essentially I am taking a hit in the beginning, mostly because I am locked into an expensive lease. However, once my lease here is up I will end up ahead. When I live abroad, my housing will be paid for. So even though I get less dollars, my largest expense will be gone. Also, when serving abroad I get local holidays off as well as U.S. government holidays!!!! Of course, I've heard that working in an embassy is not exactly a 9-5 kind of thing but that is fine!!!
10) So what will you be doing?
We shall see! I'll tell you on the blog (well depending on if I get internets or not)! One of my first two tours will be a consular post. I am actually excited about this - it involves processing visas and helping out Americans abroad who have gotten themselves in a jam. After that, I will be an economic cone, meaning that my jobs will focus more on economic issues - helping U.S. businesses export to the country, gathering data, helping set up development/aid programs.
Okay, these are the most common questions I've gotten so far. But....any others I'll tackle if I can...send 'em in!
But once they soak it in, there are a few commom questions to which I now have some answers:
1) When do you start?
Training starts January 5. January 5 and 6 are at the State Department Main Building in Foggy Bottom...yup right by the Watergate Hotel. Most of the rest of the first 7 week training class, called A-100, will be at the Foreign Service Institute(FSI) in Arlington.
2) Where are you going? Do you get to choose?
Alas, I have no idea yet. I am available for worldwide assignment. The first week I will get a list of available posts and I will rank all the posts on the list either high, medium, low. I will also meet with people from State to discuss why I've ranked the way I have and what I want. I've heard that most people do get a posting that they ranked as high.
3) When will you know where you are going?
Flag Day is February 13th, yup Friday the 13th! This is a ceremony at FSI where all the flags for the potential posts are up front. Each flag is taken up and the officers identify the country. Then the officer assigned to that country is called and goes up to accept their flag and their info about their new post.
4) How long will you be training? When do you leave?
Most officers train from 4 months to 1 year before going to their first post. I will know when I'm leaving after flag day. Everyone does A-100, which is the 7 weeks just about State's mission and being a diplomat in general. Then, depending on the type of post, additional training about the specific job will occur. Then, again depending on the post, language training may be needed.
5) Are you crazy?
Maybe. I definitely go against the norm sometimes and get geeked out about constantly being uprooted and having new challenges. Some people call me brave, but really I'm just very restless. Probably for me, being really brave would be staying put in one place since that is what scares me.
6) Where do you want to go? What is your dream post?
I know that I should have a number one spot that I am hoping for but I don't. I am just super excited to get this job and really enthused about serving wherever I am needed. I used to think I've been a fair number of places, although as I find out about my future co-classmates I realize how limited my travels have been. However, I've enjoyed to some degree everywhere I've been and know that attitude trumps environment every time. I think that if I go into the class with my hopes pinned on one spot then I set myself up for disappointment. So I really don't have my preferred post.
7) That sounds like bs. Where do you want to go?
Alright, all else being equal I would love to go to South America or Southeast Asia or a Pacific island country or Eastern Europe. Probably about a third of the postings would get me smiling like an idiot for weeks.
8) Where don't you want to go?
I'm willing to go anywhere but there are some places I'd rather visit than live. Mostly, I'd prefer not to go to a country where as a woman my social options would be limited. Beyond that, I'd prefer not to go to a danger posting although I am willing to do so if the need is there.
9) How about money?
I am taking about a 20% pay cut to take the job. Since I'm only training in DC I don't get locality pay. But since I live in DC I don't get the per diem that others get (which is VERY generous). So essentially I am taking a hit in the beginning, mostly because I am locked into an expensive lease. However, once my lease here is up I will end up ahead. When I live abroad, my housing will be paid for. So even though I get less dollars, my largest expense will be gone. Also, when serving abroad I get local holidays off as well as U.S. government holidays!!!! Of course, I've heard that working in an embassy is not exactly a 9-5 kind of thing but that is fine!!!
10) So what will you be doing?
We shall see! I'll tell you on the blog (well depending on if I get internets or not)! One of my first two tours will be a consular post. I am actually excited about this - it involves processing visas and helping out Americans abroad who have gotten themselves in a jam. After that, I will be an economic cone, meaning that my jobs will focus more on economic issues - helping U.S. businesses export to the country, gathering data, helping set up development/aid programs.
Okay, these are the most common questions I've gotten so far. But....any others I'll tackle if I can...send 'em in!
getting started
I've been reading a lot of blogs lately. I am about to start my dream job and it both thrills and terrifies me. So in my typical fashion I am trying to learn as much as possible about what to expect - hence the blog reading. On one blog, the blogger said that they took forever to start their blog because they couldn't think of a title. I remember chuckling smugly when I read that. And then I went to start my own...and had the same problem!
So my blog title is wontbeatbarcabutilltry....meaning I won't beat Barcelona but I'll try...suggested by my sister Natalie. Maybe it only has meaning for Jen, Natalie and me but it has enough meaning to win the prize.
So why a blog? Because I am getting the same questions about my new job from many people, because I will be going far and wide and will be seeing and doing some very blog-able stuff, because it will be my way of keeping in touch with all who have asked without having to write the same thing to everyone - all of these are good and valid reasons but it might just be because I like to write and I want to leave a record.
Dream job? Heck yeah!!!! On January 5, I will start working for the Foreign Service!!!
So my blog title is wontbeatbarcabutilltry....meaning I won't beat Barcelona but I'll try...suggested by my sister Natalie. Maybe it only has meaning for Jen, Natalie and me but it has enough meaning to win the prize.
So why a blog? Because I am getting the same questions about my new job from many people, because I will be going far and wide and will be seeing and doing some very blog-able stuff, because it will be my way of keeping in touch with all who have asked without having to write the same thing to everyone - all of these are good and valid reasons but it might just be because I like to write and I want to leave a record.
Dream job? Heck yeah!!!! On January 5, I will start working for the Foreign Service!!!
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